A two-day undercover sting in Hall County ended with the arrests of seven people accused of crimes ranging from online child exploitation to prostitution and drug possession.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office launched “Operation Lights Out” with help from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Floyd County Police Department. Investigators spent months preparing for the sting before moving in on August 15 and 16 at a location in western Hall County.
The goal of the operation was to target predators and others using the internet to arrange illegal sexual relationships, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
Seven taken into custody
Among those taken into custody was 59-year-old Jorge Francisco Arevalo of Flowery Branch, who investigators say used his computer to lure what he thought was a minor into a sexual relationship. He now faces felony charges of electronic exploitation of a minor and grooming a child for indecent purposes.
Juan Domingo Lesther Aguirre, 29, of Cleveland, was also arrested on felony charges. Deputies say he asked for nude photos from someone he believed was under 18.
Two men, James Cole Johnson, 29, of Flowery Branch, and Andrew Stakoun, 56, of Atlanta, face misdemeanor pandering charges.
Investigators also charged two women with prostitution. Desameria Lysandra Lattimore, 27, of Winder, allegedly offered an undercover officer sex for $250. Candie Petty, 45, of Chatsworth, reportedly asked $450 and also offered to sell marijuana. Deputies say Petty was carrying drugs and now faces additional felony charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
A seventh suspect, Qwantavious Dashay Tolbert, 29, of Winder, was arrested after deputies found two oxycodone pills in his possession. Investigators say he drove Lattimore to the sting location and now faces a felony drug charge.
Current status
All seven suspects were booked into the Hall County Jail. Arevalo, Aguirre, and Petty remain in custody without bond. Tolbert was granted an $8,100 bond but remains jailed. Johnson, Stakoun, and Lattimore each posted a $1,300 bond and were released.
